Was Stonehenge The World's First Rock Concert Venue?

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By Jason MacNeil

Posted:
12/03/2013 12:09 pm EST
Updated:
12/04/2013 3:40 am EST

Revelllers celebrate the pagan festival of 'Summer Solstice' at Stonehenge in Wiltshire in southern England, on June 21, 2013. The festival, which dates back thousands of years, celebrates the longest day of the year when the sun is at its maximum elevation. Modern druids and people gather at the landmark Stonehenge every year to see the sun rise on the first morning of summer. AFP PHOTO / JUSTIN TALLIS (Photo credit should read JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images

Spinal Tap may have been onto something decades ago when the mock-rockers recorded their song "Stonehenge" -- a new study has revealed the ancient site could have been used as a "prehistoric centre for rock music."

The Daily Mail reports that experts at London's Royal College of Art said some of the stones -- when struck with hammers -- resemble the sounds of drums, gongs or bells. The experiment was the first time researchers were able to hit the monument located at the Salisbury Plain to see what possible noise existed.

The Daily Express added the team of Jon Wozencroft and Paul Devereux from the London institute struck the rocks in 1,000 different locations. "We are in no doubt that the source area of the Stonehenge bluestones is a noteworthy soundscape."

The Journal of Time & Mind said the Preseli Bluestones which are the stones found on the 5000-year-old site might have been picked due to their "acoustic energy." The research comes following Bernard Fagg, a "rock gong" pioneer who thought the reason for the monuments were because of their sonic capacities and thus sacred to people who lived during the Stone Age. "Different sounds can be heard in different places on the same stones," the researchers said, adding the noises varied from a wooden sound to a metallic sound.

"It was a really magical discovery and refreshing to come across a phenomenon you can't explain," researcher Jon Wozencroft told the MailOnline, later adding he believed Stonehenge could be described as the first real musical instrument, or a Stone Age equivalent of a church bell. Some of the stones were also able to maintain their sound 5,000 years later.

This follows research from 2009 that claimed, based on a study of the area's acoustics, "it may have been used for ancient raves" after Rupert Till, a university prof specializing in acoustics and music technology, believed the rocks were ideal for amplifying a "repetitive trance rhythm."

That same year, Spinal Tap revisited their Stonehenge moment with a visit to the site following a Glastonbury gig, during which they ran into Canadian electro-rockers Metric. "The best part is, it was Spinal Tap's first trip to Stonehenge as well," lead singer Emily Haines subsequently blogged: "According to Shearer, they were just making their way back to London when they spotted the source of their most memorable joke in in the distance and decided, 'This would be the time to see the full-scale version."

Stonehenge was also seen as a backdrop for the 1965 Beatles film "Help!" and from 1972 to 1984 Stonehenge was also home to the Stonehenge Free Festival which saw bands like Hawkwind, Doctor and the Medics, Thompson Twins and Jimmy Page perform over its run.

Nowadays, Stonehenge attracts crowds of up to 20,000 during the summer solstice, as you can see from the gallery below.

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Summer Solstice At Stonehenge

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AMESBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 20: Jessica Matla and Mica Sviddo pose for a photograph as they wait for the arrival of the midsummer dawn at the megalithic monument of Stonehenge on June 20, 2013 near Amesbury, England. Despite cloudy skies, thousands of revellers gathered at the 5,000 year old stone circle in Wiltshire to see the sunrise on the Summer Solstice dawn. The solstice sunrise marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

AMESBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 20: Kate Skelton looks towards the setting sun as she waits for the arrival of the midsummer dawn at the megalithic monument of Stonehenge on June 20, 2013 near Amesbury, England. Despite cloudy skies, thousands of revellers gathered at the 5,000 year old stone circle in Wiltshire to see the sunrise on the Summer Solstice dawn. The solstice sunrise marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

AMESBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 20: Kate Skelton looks towards the setting sun as she waits for the arrival of the midsummer dawn at the megalithic monument of Stonehenge on June 20, 2013 near Amesbury, England. Despite cloudy skies, thousands of revellers gathered at the 5,000 year old stone circle in Wiltshire to see the sunrise on the Summer Solstice dawn. The solstice sunrise marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

AMESBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 21: Revellers gather as druids, pagans and revellers celebrate the summer solstice at the megalithic monument of Stonehenge on June 21, 2013 near Amesbury, England. Despite cloudy skies, thousands of revellers gathered at the 5,000 year old stone circle in Wiltshire to see the sunrise on the Summer Solstice dawn. The solstice sunrise marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

AMESBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 20: Revellers gather to celebrate the arrival of the midsummer dawn at the megalithic monument of Stonehenge on June 20, 2013 near Amesbury, England. Despite cloudy skies, thousands of revellers gathered at the 5,000 year old stone circle in Wiltshire to see the sunrise on the Summer Solstice dawn. The solstice sunrise marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

AMESBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 20: Robyn Smith makes bubbles as she waits for the arrival of the midsummer dawn at the megalithic monument of Stonehenge on June 20, 2013 near Amesbury, England. Despite cloudy skies, thousands of revellers gathered at the 5,000 year old stone circle in Wiltshire to see the sunrise on the Summer Solstice dawn. The solstice sunrise marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

AMESBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 20: Revellers dance in the centre of the stones as they wait for the arrival of the midsummer dawn at the megalithic monument of Stonehenge on June 20, 2013 near Amesbury, England. Despite cloudy skies, thousands of revellers gathered at the 5,000 year old stone circle in Wiltshire to see the sunrise on the Summer Solstice dawn. The solstice sunrise marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

AMESBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 20: Tullio Barrecchia and Francesca Nobile (L) pose for a photograph as they wait for the arrival of the midsummer dawn at the megalithic monument of Stonehenge on June 20, 2013 near Amesbury, England. Despite cloudy skies, thousands of revellers gathered at the 5,000 year old stone circle in Wiltshire to see the sunrise on the Summer Solstice dawn. The solstice sunrise marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

AMESBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 20: Ammi Spatch poses for a photograph as she waits for the arrival of the midsummer dawn at the megalithic monument of Stonehenge on June 20, 2013 near Amesbury, England. Despite cloudy skies, thousands of revellers gathered at the 5,000 year old stone circle in Wiltshire to see the sunrise on the Summer Solstice dawn. The solstice sunrise marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

AMESBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 20: A reveller poses for a photograph as she waits for the arrival of the midsummer dawn at the megalithic monument of Stonehenge on June 20, 2013 near Amesbury, England. Despite cloudy skies, thousands of revellers gathered at the 5,000 year old stone circle in Wiltshire to see the sunrise on the Summer Solstice dawn. The solstice sunrise marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

AMESBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 20: Revellers walks towards Stonehenge to celebrate the arrival of the midsummer dawn at the megalithic monument of Stonehenge on June 20, 2013 near Amesbury, England. Despite cloudy skies, thousands of revellers gathered at the 5,000 year old stone circle in Wiltshire to see the sunrise on the Summer Solstice dawn. The solstice sunrise marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

AMESBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 21: Solstice reveller Mad Al gestures as he joins druids, pagans and revellers celebrating the summer solstice at the megalithic monument of Stonehenge on June 21, 2013 near Amesbury, England. Despite cloudy skies, thousands of revellers gathered at the 5,000 year old stone circle in Wiltshire to see the sunrise on the Summer Solstice dawn. The solstice sunrise marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

AMESBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 21: Solstice reveller Mad Al gestures as he joins druids, pagans and revellers celebrating the summer solstice at the megalithic monument of Stonehenge on June 21, 2013 near Amesbury, England. Despite cloudy skies, thousands of revellers gathered at the 5,000 year old stone circle in Wiltshire to see the sunrise on the Summer Solstice dawn. The solstice sunrise marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

AMESBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 21: Revellers gather as druids, pagans and revellers celebrate the summer solstice at the megalithic monument of Stonehenge on June 21, 2013 near Amesbury, England. Despite cloudy skies, thousands of revellers gathered at the 5,000 year old stone circle in Wiltshire to see the sunrise on the Summer Solstice dawn. The solstice sunrise marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

AMESBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 21: Revellers gather as druids, pagans and revellers celebrate the summer solstice at the megalithic monument of Stonehenge on June 21, 2013 near Amesbury, England. Despite cloudy skies, thousands of revellers gathered at the 5,000 year old stone circle in Wiltshire to see the sunrise on the Summer Solstice dawn. The solstice sunrise marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

AMESBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 21: Revellers gather as druids, pagans and revellers celebrate the summer solstice at the megalithic monument of Stonehenge on June 21, 2013 near Amesbury, England. Despite cloudy skies, thousands of revellers gathered at the 5,000 year old stone circle in Wiltshire to see the sunrise on the Summer Solstice dawn. The solstice sunrise marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

AMESBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 21: Druid Arthur Uther Pendragon takes part in a summer solstice dawn ceremony as druids, pagans and revellers wait for the midsummer sun to rise at the megalithic monument of Stonehenge on June 21, 2013 near Amesbury, England. Despite cloudy skies, thousands of revellers gathered at the 5,000 year old stone circle in Wiltshire to see the sunrise on the Summer Solstice dawn. The solstice sunrise marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

AMESBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 21: Rollo Maughfling, (R) the Archdruid of Stonehenge and Britain, conducts a dawn ceremony as druids, pagans and revellers wait for the midsummer sun to rise as they take part in a summer solstice ceremony at the megalithic monument of Stonehenge on June 21, 2013 near Amesbury, England. Despite cloudy skies, thousands of revellers gathered at the 5,000 year old stone circle in Wiltshire to see the sunrise on the Summer Solstice dawn. The solstice sunrise marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

AMESBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 21: Rollo Maughfling, (R) the Archdruid of Stonehenge and Britain, conducts a dawn ceremony as druids, pagans and revellers wait for the midsummer sun to rise as they take part in a summer solstice ceremony at the megalithic monument of Stonehenge on June 21, 2013 near Amesbury, England. Despite cloudy skies, thousands of revellers gathered at the 5,000 year old stone circle in Wiltshire to see the sunrise on the Summer Solstice dawn. The solstice sunrise marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

AMESBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 21: Revellers gather as druids, pagans and revellers celebrate the summer solstice at the megalithic monument of Stonehenge on June 21, 2013 near Amesbury, England. Despite cloudy skies, thousands of revellers gathered at the 5,000 year old stone circle in Wiltshire to see the sunrise on the Summer Solstice dawn. The solstice sunrise marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

AMESBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 21: Solstice reveller Mad Al gestures as he joins druids, pagans and revellers celebrating the summer solstice at the megalithic monument of Stonehenge on June 21, 2013 near Amesbury, England. Despite cloudy skies, thousands of revellers gathered at the 5,000 year old stone circle in Wiltshire to see the sunrise on the Summer Solstice dawn. The solstice sunrise marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

AMESBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 21: Rollo Maughfling, (R) the Archdruid of Stonehenge and Britain, conducts a dawn ceremony as druids, pagans and revellers wait for the midsummer sun to rise as they take part in a summer solstice ceremony at the megalithic monument of Stonehenge on June 21, 2013 near Amesbury, England. Despite cloudy skies, thousands of revellers gathered at the 5,000 year old stone circle in Wiltshire to see the sunrise on the Summer Solstice dawn. The solstice sunrise marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

AMESBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 21: A reveller hugs the stones as druids, pagans and revellers celebrate the summer solstice at the megalithic monument of Stonehenge on June 21, 2013 near Amesbury, England. Despite cloudy skies, thousands of revellers gathered at the 5,000 year old stone circle in Wiltshire to see the sunrise on the Summer Solstice dawn. The solstice sunrise marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

AMESBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 21: People take part in a summer solstice dawn ceremony as druids, pagans and revellers wait for the midsummer sun to rise at the megalithic monument of Stonehenge on June 21, 2013 near Amesbury, England. Despite cloudy skies, thousands of revellers gathered at the 5,000 year old stone circle in Wiltshire to see the sunrise on the Summer Solstice dawn. The solstice sunrise marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

AMESBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 21: Rollo Maughfling, (R) the Archdruid of Stonehenge and Britain, conducts a dawn ceremony as druids, pagans and revellers wait for the midsummer sun to rise as they take part in a summer solstice ceremony at the megalithic monument of Stonehenge on June 21, 2013 near Amesbury, England. Despite cloudy skies, thousands of revellers gathered at the 5,000 year old stone circle in Wiltshire to see the sunrise on the Summer Solstice dawn. The solstice sunrise marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

AMESBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 21: Revellers gather as druids, pagans and revellers celebrate the summer solstice at the megalithic monument of Stonehenge on June 21, 2013 near Amesbury, England. Despite cloudy skies, thousands of revellers gathered at the 5,000 year old stone circle in Wiltshire to see the sunrise on the Summer Solstice dawn. The solstice sunrise marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

AMESBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 21: Solstice reveller Mad Al gestures as he joins druids, pagans and revellers celebrating the summer solstice at the megalithic monument of Stonehenge on June 21, 2013 near Amesbury, England. Despite cloudy skies, thousands of revellers gathered at the 5,000 year old stone circle in Wiltshire to see the sunrise on the Summer Solstice dawn. The solstice sunrise marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

AMESBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 21: Revellers gather as druids, pagans and revellers celebrate the summer solstice at the megalithic monument of Stonehenge on June 21, 2013 near Amesbury, England. Despite cloudy skies, thousands of revellers gathered at the 5,000 year old stone circle in Wiltshire to see the sunrise on the Summer Solstice dawn. The solstice sunrise marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

AMESBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 21: Revellers gather as druids, pagans and revellers celebrate the summer solstice at the megalithic monument of Stonehenge on June 21, 2013 near Amesbury, England. Despite cloudy skies, thousands of revellers gathered at the 5,000 year old stone circle in Wiltshire to see the sunrise on the Summer Solstice dawn. The solstice sunrise marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

AMESBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 21: Rubbish is collected as druids, pagans and revellers celebrate the summer solstice at the megalithic monument of Stonehenge on June 21, 2013 near Amesbury, England. Despite cloudy skies, thousands of revellers gathered at the 5,000 year old stone circle in Wiltshire to see the sunrise on the Summer Solstice dawn. The solstice sunrise marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

AMESBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 21: Rubbish is collected as druids, pagans and revellers celebrate the summer solstice at the megalithic monument of Stonehenge on June 21, 2013 near Amesbury, England. Despite cloudy skies, thousands of revellers gathered at the 5,000 year old stone circle in Wiltshire to see the sunrise on the Summer Solstice dawn. The solstice sunrise marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

Crowds gather at dawn amongst the stones at Stonehenge in Wiltshire for the Summer Solstice.

Crowds gather at dawn amongst the stones at Stonehenge in Wiltshire for the Summer Solstice.

Crowds gather at dawn amongst the stones at Stonehenge in Wiltshire for the Summer Solstice.

Crowds gather at dawn amongst the stones at Stonehenge in Wiltshire for the Summer Solstice.

Crowds gather at dawn amongst the stones at Stonehenge in Wiltshire for the Summer Solstice.

Crowds gather at dawn amongst the stones at Stonehenge in Wiltshire for the Summer Solstice.

Crowds gather at dawn amongst the stones at Stonehenge in Wiltshire for the Summer Solstice.

Crowds gather at dawn amongst the stones at Stonehenge in Wiltshire for the Summer Solstice.

Crowds gather at dawn amongst the stones at Stonehenge in Wiltshire for the Summer Solstice.